Tropical Storm Nicole bill now at $20 billion

The repair bill following damage to the Jamaican road infrastructure by Tropical Storm Nicole has jumped to $20 billion.

Three weeks ago the transport and works minister had placed the repair costs at $12 billion.

The chief executive officer of the National Works Agency (NWA) Patrick Wong made the disclosure during today’s post cabinet press briefing.

Wong also announced that work is to begin on the Sandy Gully bridge by December 11.

Meanwhile the transport and works minister Mike Henry is pleading with Jamaicans to be patient even as more and more persons express disgust at the government's failure to repair roads ravaged by the flood rains associated with the tropical storm late last month.

Henry said some work has already started and other projects are to be launched soon.

But he argued that there are some road surfaces which cannot be repaired before the supporting infrastructure is repaired.

He says the Jamaica Infrastructure Development Programme (JDIP), which was first launched in St. Catherine in August, has put the government in a position where it will be able to effectively respond to the infrastructural demands.

According to the works minister, contractors will be required to work 24 hours each day, where possible, to speedily implement the repairs.